Internal-combustion engine.



J. T. SIMPSON & P. B. TAYLOR.

INTERNAL COMBUSTIONENGINE.'

APPLlcATloN FILED MAR. 1. 1912.

M51 12.. Patented; Aug. 24, 1915.

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JOHNEEQMAS srivrgsoN AND :BERCY B. TAYLOR, E' NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

INTEENALGOMBUsTION ENGINE.

nasales.

Specification of Letters-Patent.

. 'Patent-led Aug. e4., 1915.

Application filed March 1 1912. Serial No. 680,896..

T0 all vwhom it may concern the United States, and both residents ofl Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a newv and.

useful Internal-.Combustion Engine, of which'the following is a specification. j

The objects we have in View are to produce an internal combustion engine which will eliminate the' use of puppet or other make-and break Contact valves, and of the cams by means of which they are moved.

vAccording to our invention, we use a smglemmain rotating valve which is in continuous Contact with the valve seat, thereby obtaining noiseless operation. At the same time, we eliminate a great number of the parts, and thereby simplify and cheapen theengine. Also, 'according to our invention, the rotating valve is unsupported by the driving spindle, and is free to move in any radial direction regardless o f the necessarily `central positionoi' the driving spindle.

This allows-of the valve being considerably smaller in diameter than the bore of the valve casing so that the proper lubrication of thel valve surface is secured and an allowance is made for expansion of the valve by heat. It also allows less refinement in fitting t-he valve, which has been one ofthe chief objections'tgrrotating-valvesheretcfore. According'to our invention, the seats ofthe valve are kept clean4 at all times, so that we avoid the necessity of cleaning the valve, and therotating valve is of such a form that it is in itself very muchil5 stronger than Athe valves heretofore used, and danger of breaking is reduced to a minimum. We make'the ports in the valve so that there is no possibility of d is'arrangement of relative timing of the opening of the valve to the various cylinders, and no adjustment is required after the 'first setting.

A further object is toprovide a selfstarting devicefor the engine, by means of compressed air vor other gas.l A starting device is combined with the rotating valve, and by our invention We avoid the use of any-distributing valves in addition.

A 'further object is to produce a device which will permit free inlets and outlets of air to the cylinders of the engine, for When the latter is not being operated'but is being turned, it will be free to turn without drag;

this latter is of particular 'value in aeroplane engines.A

A further object is to improve the lubrication of the valve.

These and further objects will more fully appear from the following specication and accompanying drawings, considered together or separately: y

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a View of an engine embodying our invention,

the view being takenthrough the four cyl-' inders, the valve being partly in section. Fig. 2 is a. section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1'. Fig. 6 is a view of the sliding plate joint, with the parts separated. Fig. 7 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, on an -enlarged scale, showing the'self-starting valve, this valve being omitted in the preceding'views, to avoid confusion. Fig. 8 is a portion of the main valve, showing one of the exhaust ports and the connected starting port. Fig. 9 is aportion of the starting valve showing the inlet and outlet-ports, and Fig. 10 is a detai-l of the starting valve.

In all of the views, like parts are designated by the same reference characters.

We illustrate our invention as appliedto an' internal combustion engine of th'e four cylinder, l--stroke cycle type. The invention, however, may be employed in connection with other forms of internal combustion engines. Accordingto the apparatus illustrated in the drawings, the cylinders 1, 2, 3 andl, areA suitably supportedwith relation to one another. Each has the Ausualpiston drawings as a water jacket 9. .This jacket llocated elsewhere.` The valve casing is'provided with 'a cooling device, shown 1n the may inclose the whole of the valve casing,

as shown, or only 'a part of it, as desired. The main valve 10 'is located Within the valve casing; it is circular in cross-section, and is provided with the necessary inlet ports 11, and outlet ports 12, as will be described. An inlet and an outlet port are arranged in conjunction with each cylinder.

These-ports are sufliciently separated'to pref vent leakage from one to the other.

. Thevalviemaybe made solidl as-shown,

but this is not essential, as it may be made in the form of a shell of sufli'cient thickness to give the necessary strength. We prefer vto make it of a single piece, the portions carrying thevports .of the full size of the valve, and these portions connected together by the reduced portions 13.v These reduced portions are betweenthe cylinders, and by means of them, the valve is given a certain degree of flexibility, and it lwill not be distorted by heat, these reduced portions'pe'rmitting bending. At each reduced portion is located an expanding ring 14. This ring is of the usual expanding type, and makes a close t with the valve at its sides and withv theV valve casing at vits periphery. These rings are put in loose, but being made toV spring outward, will engagel in close relation with theu inner wall of the valve casing and ordinarily will not rotate. The valve is rotated by suitable gearing 15, of any type, so that it will have the proper speed relation.v to the crank shaft 7. We connect the gearing 15 to the valve ,by means ofV a suitable device to permit relative movement of the valve. This device is preferably the sliding plate coupling 16, which com risesl a 'plate 17 (see Fig.' 6) withl a vfeat er on each side, the two feathers being at right angles to each other. One feather plays in a groove in the end of the valve, and the other feather plays in a groove on the face of an enlarged head carried by the shaft 18 to which the gearing 15 is connected. This coupling permits the valve to adjust itself to irregularities in the casing,

and also accommodates itself to the changes in shape caused by wear, and the valve, therefore, ioats in its casing free from any centralizing influence of the shaft 18.

In connection with each cylinderjis a gas inlet passage 19, in the valve casing, and an exhaust passage 20 from the valve' casing. There is also a gas passage 21, leading from the valve through `the casing to the cylinder, and an'exhaustpassage 22 leading fromthe cylinder through thecasing to the valve.

The'operation of somuch of the inven# tion as has been described, is as follows: Assuming that the engine is of the 4lstroke cycle type shown, and has the four cylinders,-Fig. 2 shows the position of the valve and piston just as the latter is about to descend after the chargev has'been eX- ploded. Fig. 3 representsthe position of the piston and the valve on theupstroke of the piston While the products of 'combustion are being discharged. Fig. 4 represents the position of the piston and the valve when the piston is about to descend, during the suction stroke, drawing n themixture into the combustion chamber,`and Fig. 5 shows.

'the position of the piston and the valve during the beginning of the compression stroke. These Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, represent the sequence of `movement in any cylinder,

or where the cranks are arrangedjas in Fig.

1, so that the operations in the cylinders 1,

,2, 3 and 4 are in sequence, then these views will represent the separate cylinders 1, 2, 3 and 4. In Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the inlet port 11 is shown in solid lines, and the exhaust port in broken lines. InFig. 3, the exhaust port is shown in full lines, and the inlet port in broken lines. Assuming the ports to be as kin Fig. 2, and ignition having taken place,

the Acrank being just on center, the valve having rotated in the direction of the arrow at the rate of one-half the speed of the crank shaft,- all the ports will bey closed. As the piston descends to the bottom of the stroke, the valve will be given a one-quarter of a revolution, bringing the parts' to the position shown in Fig. 3. The outlet port .12 has registered with the exhaust passage 22 from the cylinder and is about yto register with the exhaust passage 20 from the 'valve casing, the piston rising, lwill eject the produ'cts'ofcombustion through these 'two pas-y sages by way of thelexhaust port 12. In the position shown in Fig. 4, the piston has reached the top of its stroke and the valve has been given a further one-quarter revolution. The. further rotation of the valve will 11,-'while it will be in communication with' the'gaspassage 21, will no longer bel 1n communication with the gas inlet passage 19, hence the charge will be'compressed by the upward movementl of the piston. We-

prefer to have' the ignition so timed that the cylinders will lire just before the piston reaches the top' of 'its stroke and the crank is beyond its center; but, of course, itmay take place before or after'this point. The contents of-'the inlet 'port will be carried around by the valve, and will be ejaculated into thel inlet manifold. The outlet port will communicate with'the outlet passage 22,l

during the firing stroke, hence the area of this port must be calculated as part of the effective area ofthe combustion chamber.A

' It is apparent 'that the passages 19 and 2O being above the horizontal center of the valve, all"pressure, that is,-during :come

pression and expansions-will be upward,-

tending to force this valve against the upper part of its seat and keep the passages closed. Even shouldthe valve wear toa lsmalle-r size, 'and should the valve casing ence being had particularly to Fig.a 7: We

provide a hand-starting valve 23. This hand valve is preferably used in connection with a plurality of cylinders. When used in connection with four cylinders, it will always insure starting of the engine, irrespective of the position of the pistons. The hand valve 'is in the form of a cylinder somewhat similar -to the valve already described,

mounted in a suitable casing as shown. To this casing is' attached a pipe formed with a passage 2l, for air or other gas underpressure. This passage is brought into commui nication vwiththeI port 25 in the starting valve when the valve is rotated to the proper v position.l When so brought into position, it

eou'u'nunicates with the port 26 in the valve casing, and this poi-t 26 communicates with the port 27 in the main valve 10. This port 27 .is to one side of the exhaust port 12, and is connected to the same by means of a bypass 28. It is apparent that by rotating the starting valve as by means of the lever 38, so that these ports are brought into coincidence, air or gas under pressure will enter the particular port 27 that is opposite the passage 26. This port 27 is' so located in relation to the outlet port 12, that it will be opposite the passage 2G when the piston is just beyond the firing position and is aboutto descend, and will remain in such position during the firing stroke only of the piston. The port 27 is locatedv to one side of the outlet port 12, and extends further around the valve so that it will be open as soon as the outlet port is in communication with the exhaust passage 22; The air or gas under pressure, therefore, will. enter the cylinder throu gh the outletpassage; the inlet passage 2l at the same time will be closed, as shown in Fig. 7. by air or gas entering the exhaust port of thc main valve. The movement of this main valve will determine the proper timing. of inlet and cut-off. A check valve'86 may be placed in the air supply pipe, as shown, so that if the valve is not closed after starting, the products of combustion will not be driven back through this pipe. We prefer to use a spring '37, for keeping the valve normallyclosed (see Fig. l0), so that when the operator removes hishand or foot from the valve, after the engine has started, the valve will automatically close.

The engine, therefore, is started For the purpose ofv allowing the engine to run free, for instance, when used in aeroplanework, when the engine is being rotated by the propeller, we provide the following device: The starting valve casing is provided with an outlet passage 29. This out let'passage may be brought into juxtaposition with anoutlet port 30, formed in the starting valve. At the same time, the outlet port 30 will be brought into juxtaposition with the port 3l which is connected to the cylinder. These ports-are brought into coincidence by rotation of the starting valve, in the opposite direction from that used in starting, so that the port 25 is no longer in communication with the passage 26. Air, therefore, outside will be freely drawn into.

and forced out of the cylinder by the move ment of the piston,A and there will be no load upon the engine and no resistance to turning outside of the valve.' The .lubricant will beA drawnthrough these passages by centrifugal action, the 'amount of oil. vfed depending .upon the speed of the engine, and will lubrif cate 'the outside surfaces of the valve and inside surface of the casing. For the purpose of lubricating the rings la between the sections of the`valve, other branches 34 eX- tend from the passage 32 -through the reduced portions 13. The lubricant is thrown out against the rings 14, and lubricates the bearing surfaces of the rings and the sections of the valve. The lubricant also closes the joints and prevents escape of gas under pressure which may leak into the valve casing.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that through the absence of vibration in the valve and in the valve' operating mechanism, there will be less wear and tear on the entire engine than with' puppet valve engines, with the result of much smoother operation. The amount of lubricant for the lubrication of the valve is certain at all times, the amount of oil required being autoinatically delivered to all contact surfaces by the actionv of the valve itself by centrifugal action. From this it is apparent that the higher the speed Iof the engine, the

greater amount of lubricant will be delivered closed. It is also apparent that, 'irrespective of the Wear upon the valve or casing, a close joint Vwill be provided. Vhile We have not illustrated the usual connections of the engine, it is apparent that the gas inlet passage 19 of all the cylinders may be connected to the usual manifold, and those to a single carbureter, or each may be connected to a4 separate carburetor. It is also apparent that fthe exhaust passages from the valve casing 20 may be connected to manifolds in the usual manner. Any form of igniters may be employed, and they may be arranged inlany place, the igniter 35 being simply located Where shown for purposes of illustration. It is apparent that the gas and exhaust ports .in the valve being separated by a considerable width of valve surface, there Will be no leakage between the two.

In accordance With the provisions of the patent statutes, We have described the principle of our invention, together With the apparatus Which We now consider to represent the bestlembodiment thereof; but We desire to have it understood that the appa' ratus shown is merely illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out in other ways.

Having now describedfour invention, What we claim as'new and'desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s:-

l. An internal combustion engine having a rotating valve, ports communicating WithI the cylinder, a starting valve, an auxiliary port in the main valve communicating' with vthe starting valve, said auxiliary port communicating With one of the valve ports.

An internal combustion engine having a rotating valve, with a port therein, communicating with a cylinder, a starting valve having a port-therein, an auxiliary port in the main valve, and a by-pass connecting the auxiliary port with the main port of the valve, soithat the starting valve port communicates with the main port when ,the valve is in a certain position.

l 3. An internal combustionengine having a plurality of `cylinders, a rotating, floating valve having weakened sections betiveenacyly; inders, and expanding rings at such Wak'f 50 ened sections, said rings remaining stat'ion' ary While the valve revolves. i y 4. An internal combustionengine having a rotating valve, a starting valve, said starting valve having ports therein communicat- 05 ing with the ports in the rotating valve, and other ports communicating With the cylinder, for controlling free air inlet andoutlet vto the cylinder direct.

This specification signed and witnessed it this 23rdday of February, 1912.

JOHN THOMAS SIMPSON. PEROY B. TAYLOR. Vitnesses:

- JOHN B. WRIGHT, JOHN' L. LorscH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. C. 

